Adjustable choke for oil wells



March 13, 1952 w. E. HAMMOCK 2,589,373

ADJUSTABLE CHOKE FOR OIL WELLS Filed April 21, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 WALTEP EHAMMOCK INVENTOR.

ATTOPNEY Patented Mar. 18; 1952 2,589,373 ADJUSTABLE CHOKE FOR on. WELLS J Walter Eugene Hammock, Garland, Tex.

Application A'pru'21, 1947, Serial No. 742,935

' 3 Claims. (Cl. 277-57) This invention relates to flowregulating devices for oil wells, and the like, and it has par-' ticular reference to apparatus for arrangement in a flow line to control the flowof well fluid to storage, and its principal object resides in the provision of a compact and economical structure embodying features of design effectively adapting the same to the accurate control of oil flowing through the tubing to storage, and relates to the improvements in flow regulating means covered by Letters Patent issued to Jesse L. Oehler, Number 2,150,077 and dated March 7,1939.

'Another object of the invention is that-of providing a flow control device in which i arranged a plurality of flow ports having renewableiseats of abrasive and corrosion resistant materials, such as carbide, or other suitable substance. 1 s r Broadly, the inventionembraces the provision of a self contained valve structure, completely sealed and capable of ready adjustment with a minimum of effort.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description-proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional illustration of the invention, taken on lines I-I of Figure 2, showing the arrangement of adjustable valve stems, seats and closures.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the invention;

Figure 3 is aperspective illustration of one of the adjustable stems and its self-adjusting seat engaging element.

Figure 4 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the invention, taken on lines 4-4 of Figure 1, showing the top of the ported disk member.

Figure 5 is a lateral cross-sectional view, taken on lines 5-5 of Figure 1, showing an inverted plan view of the disk member, and

Figure 6 illustrates, in perspective, the head member and connected disk member, and showing the adjustable stems and one of the ports.

The invention accordingly comprises a hollow body member I0, preferably cylindrical in form. having a conical or reduced portion I I at its lower end terminating in a'nipple I2 threaded. to afiord a coupling means by which the device can be connected into a flow line. Interiorly of the body I 0, and spaced above the shoulder a. defined by the tapered portion II, is formed an annular shoulder I3 providing a seat for a disk I 4 arranged in the manner shown in Figure 1.

The upper end of the body member I0 is open and is exteriorly threaded. A head mem-' ber I5 is providedto beconfo'rmably seated in the body member In to close the upper end and v is formed with an annular circumferential flange- I6 intermediate its top and bottom which rests upon the upper rim I! of the body member III while the annular skirt I8 of the head member I 5 extends downwardly into the body I 0 irrarelatively close association therewith. The upper portion I9 of the head member I5 extends-above the body W, as illustrated in Figure 1.

The head member I5 is secured to the body member ID by a flanged ring 20 which is interiorly threaded to engage the threads on the ex terior upper portion of the body ID, the flange 2 I of the ring 20 bearing upon the annular flange I6 when th ring 20 is threaded thereagainst.

Dowel pins 22 are secured in the flange J6 and" spaced around the same, as illustrated in Figures, l and 6, engageable with corresponding bores '23 in theupper rim I I of the body-land bywhich the head member I 5 can beaxial1yadjusted with respect to the body -I0.

The body member I 0 has a. central interiorly threaded bore 24 providing for the connection of the assembly into a flow line. Arranged about or on each side of the threadedborefi'are a pluralityof bores25, each formedwith annular offsets 26 in their lower ends, bushings. 21 are fitted therein, their flanged lower ends 28 engaging the annular offsets 26, as in Figure 1. i

I l fhe bushings 21 have internal threaded .portions 29 in their lower ends whose diameters are slightly greater than the remaining portion 30 of the'bore above the threads. A valve" stem The lower ends of the stems 3I are formed with sockets 35 adapted to receive the balls 35 of selfseating members 31 whose opposite seating surfaces are conical and are preferably formed from carbide, or similar abrasive and corrosion resistant materials. The ball and socket association of the seating members 3! with the stems 3i will insure the proper seating of the members 31.

The disk It is rigidly connected to the head |5 by dowel pins 33 and spaced therefrom to provide a chamber 39 between these members. The central threaded bore 24 in the head I5 communicates with the chamber 39, as shown in Figure 1. A plurality of ported seats 40 are removably arranged in the disk I 4 and positioned to correspond to the seating members 31 thereabove. The seats 40 are bevelled, as illustrated in Figure 1, and are preferably of a relatively hard material, such as carbide, which has exceptional wear and corrosive resisting qualities. It is also desirable that these members be renewable.

The ports 4|, in which the seats 40 are arranged, open through the disk |4 into the com- I partment 42 defined therebeneath. The ports 4| preferably are of difierent diameters and flared at the undersurface of the disk !4 to minimize the resistance to the flow of well fluid therethrough. The variations in diameters of the ports 4| afford a more effective means for controlling'volume of flow.

A plurality of grooves 43 are formed around the interior of the upper ,end of the body III for packingrings 44 which provide for a seal around the head I5. Asimilar groove 45 is formed in the innersurface of the head l5 about the disk |4 toreceive a packing ring 46 providing a suitable seal around the disk It. The well fluid enters the chamber 39 through the bore 24 and imposes a constant pressure upon the disk member l4, passing through the ports 4| and the compartment 42 and out through the nip le l2 and the pipe connected thereto to storage.

Obviously, the stems 3| can be selectively threaded downwardly to close the ports 4] by the self sealing members 31, either completely or-only-partially, to control the flow of well fluid through the invention. Each of the stems 3|,

same into an 011 line, a flow passage through said reduced portion, a control unit comprising a cylindrical head member formed with a peripheral flange adapted to be seated on the rim of said body opposite said reduced portion, the inner portion of said head extending into said body, a disk member connected to said head and spaced therebelow by dowels, a plurality of difpassage therethrough and having a threaded reduced portion for coupling the same to an oil line, a valve unit comprising a head having a threaded bore therethrough coaxial with said 'reduced portion, the said head having a peripheral flange engageable with the rim of said body opposite said reduced portion and adapted to support said head thereon, a disk having a plurality .of .difierentsize ports therein, each having a seat, connected to and spaced from said head by a plurality of dowels, a closure for each of said ports and. an internally threaded flanged collar for securing said head in said body.

3. In a flow control device for oil wells, in combination, a hollow body having a flow passage therethrough and a reduced portion on one end providing a coupling for an oil line, a circular control head formed with a circumferential flange intermediate its ends adapted to engage the rim of said body opposite said reduced portion to support said head therein, a disk secured to and spaced below said head by dowels and having a plurality of ports therein providing communication through said body, a closure Jmember for each of the ports in said disk, each having an adjustable stem, and a flanged collar threaded upon the upper end of said body securing the said head therein.

WALTER EUGENE HAMMO CK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

